Rexall meets flu shot demand in Ontario

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario – Rexall Pharma Plus has become a top consumer destination for flu shots in Ontario since the province expanded the range of services that pharmacists can perform.

Rexall chief executive officer Frank Scorpiniti said Thursday that the Canadian drug chain's pharmacists have administered 190,000 of the more than 200,000 flu shots provided by pharmacists in Ontario this flu season, as reported by the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores, Ontario Pharmacists' Association and Ontario College of Pharmacists.

"On behalf of the entire team at Rexall Pharma Plus, I would like to thank our exceptional team of pharmacists for their commitment to their patients' health," Scorpiniti said in a statement. "By providing flu shots anytime at any of our Ontario pharmacies with no appointment necessary, our pharmacists made it easier than ever for Ontarians to receive their influenza vaccinations and protect themselves and their families from the flu. With the flu season still upon us, our pharmacists are always available until the end of the season."

The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that between 2,000 and 8,000 Canadians die each year from the flu and its complications, with thousands more becoming seriously ill and requiring hospitalization, according to Rexall.

"With hundreds of convenient points of care located in communities throughout the country, Rexall pharmacists represent an invaluable asset to the Canadian health care system," Scorpiniti added. "We are proud to be working with government to make health care services more accessible and convenient for our patients, improve patient outcomes and reduce overall health care costs."

Katz Group Canada Ltd., the parent of Rexall, operates 426 pharmacies across Canada under the Rexall and Rexall Pharma Plus banners.